Meaning: Its source is Dvorah, a Hebrew name meaning "Bee."

Nickname For: Deborah

Popularity: The name Debi ranked 1442nd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.

Narrative: According to the Jewish scriptures, Deborah was one of the earliest judges, or leaders, of her people. Considered a divinely inspired prophetess, she mobilized the Jewish nation (which was only beginning to regard itself as such) to affirm its relationship to God and to resist the aggressions of the neighboring Canaanites.

In addition, an extended passage of the Book of Judges is attributed to her. Known as the Song of Deborah, it is one of the most ancient examples of Hebrew poetry in existence. Scholars estimate that it dates from the 12th century B.C.